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In Review: Food, Inc.

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This much anticipated documentary about the North American food industry did not let me down! I first watched the trailer on my favorite crunchy blog, WalkSlowlyLiveWildly, and I knew I had to add it to my Netlfix! Stefan and I watched this together since he also loves documentaries, and we learned many things about the lawsuit side of the big companies who own small farmers.
The movie's premise is that a few large companies (who have a big, ahem, hand in lobbying/government decision making regarding food laws) are owning patents to food genes all the way to the products on the shelves at the grocery store.
I have always heard (and tried to stick to) the grocery store rule: For the food that is healthiest, stick to the "outer limits". If you just stay on the outside of the isles, you will get through produce, meat & deli, dairy, and bakery (bread)/bulk sections, therefore not buying anything packaged "ready-made" or "ready in 5 minutes". Although this stuff is easy, it is not generally speaking, healthy!
This packaged food is also all owned by the same people, who own a lot more than you'd think. Even Oprah was sued for stating that she wasn't going to eat beef! After six years, and litigation bills that only Oprah could afford, she finally won for freedom of speech. After six years! There are now laws in place that one cannot publicly state they will not eat/support beef/poultry/dairy or they can be sued for loss of revenue.
These companies even have a hand in school systems across the US (for example, ever seen a "Got Milk" poster in a school? I know I have!) and therefore are some of the only companies allowed to advertise blatantly to children without any repercussions. A very interesting conversation, in my opinion.
It is a very well made documentary, short in duration, and even includes a small part on how & why Stonyfield Farm (organic yogurt + products company) got their products into Walmart, the biggest chain in the world and sections about the woman who started Kevin's Law,Barbara Kowalcyk a food law trying to draw attention to food-borne illnesses in our food.
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However, discretion advised as there are many parts of this movie that one might become squeamish about. Although it is rated PG, there are a lot of disturbing images, that I do not think are in any way appropriate for children.
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Want to know more? Visit their website to watch the trailer, or click HERE to learn, in a nutshell, the issues the documentary talks about in summary. HERE is where you can sign a petition to keep schools junk-free zones and to promote organic & hormone free food in cafeterias.
Visit Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood to read more about advertising & marketing to children.

Comments

kylee said…
I can't wait to see this, it's been on my list for awhile! We definitely try to stick to the perimeter at the grocery store. It's fun making our homemade versions of boxed favorites, and they usually taste way better too!
January 5, 2010 at 7:42 PM
Susie said…
similar, but older movie - the future of food. i haven't seen food, inc., though, so not sure how they compare.
January 6, 2010 at 7:19 PM
Sarah M said…
have seen the future of food, too--about a year ago--was good and very informative. Food Inc is like a new "future of the food"...with a lot more budgeting & what is going on inside of the law side of things
January 7, 2010 at 8:45 AM
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